Johnny Depp yesterday made a secret visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where his daughter was treated, and donated £1million.

The Hollywood star’s eight-year-old Lily-Rose was rushed there last year when her kidneys failed following E.coli poisoning.

Depp’s surprise arrival at the London hospital comes after he invited five of its doctors and nurses to the London premiere of his latest film, winner of the Golden Globe for best musical, Sweeney Todd.

On November 29 he also spent four hours at the hospital reading stories to the children, dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Apparently, he had his costume flown over from America especially.

It was while Depp was filming Tim Burton’s adaptation of Sweeney Todd – for which he won best actor in a musical at the Golden Globes - in the UK last March that his daughter fell ill.

The family, including the actor’s long-term girlfriend Vanessa Paradis, 34, and son Jack John, 6, were staying in a rented mansion in Surrey, which is where Lily-Rose is thought to have contracted the E.coli bug.

At one point it was feared she might not live.

Depp, 43, later commented: “It was the most frightening thing we have ever been through. It was hell.

“But the magic is that she pulled through beautifully. Great Ormond Street was terrific, a great hospital.”

The donation will be much welcomed by the hospital, which needs £170million to re-develop parts of the site. Disney are said to be donating £10million.

Meanwhile US film director Burton has revealed he is finally thinking about tying the knot with actress girlfriend Helena Bonham Carter, who stars alongside Depp in Sweeney Todd.

The couple have been together for seven years and have two children together.